#TalkRadio – October 29: I’ll Rise And Vote Episode 6: The Final Stretch to Nov 5th Elections, Pennsylvania Voices From the Frontlines, TJC NBA Command Centers and Updates on TJC Voter Activations in Savannah, Brunswick, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia

SPEAKER:

12:05 PM – 12:25 PM Eastern Time (Invited guest):
State Senator Vincent Hughes of Pennsylvania

INTRODUCTION:

Hi Igniters For Change! The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, October 29th 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled “I’ll Rise And Vote Episode 6: The Final Stretch to Nov 5th Elections, Pennsylvania Voices From the Frontlines, TJC NBA Command Centers and Updates on TJC Voter Activations in Savannah, Brunswick, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and will feature invited guest Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes and “voices on the street interviews” live from the GOTV Youth Rally,  cosponsored by PA Youth Vote, Black Voters Matter, and TJC at the Philadelphia Love Park Arch Street.

“A total of 42 million US voters have already cast their ballot. This represents 27% of the 155 million people who participated in the 2020 election…Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are set to tour key swing states where the election outcome will likely be decided. However, for 42 million Americans, the choice has already been made: they’ve cast their ballots, either in person or by mail, through the early voting options provided by their states. This figure is lower than in 2020, which saw record early voting due to the pandemic. Current data show strong early turnout among Republican-registered voters, especially in swing states, though it’s unclear what this signals for the final result. Unlike in 2020, when Trump and the Republicans cast doubts about mail-in voting and urged supporters to vote in person on Election Day, this time they are actively promoting early voting. In the United States, each state organizes its voting process independently, guided by the minimum requirements set by federal law. The rules and timelines for mail-in and in-person early voting vary, as do regulations around voter registration, identification, ballot formats, and counting methods. Some states make registration and voting straightforward, while others are poorly organized, often resulting in long lines. The information states release about early voting also varies; some provide data on party affiliation — Republican, Democrat, or independent — while others do not. Similarly, certain states report data on voters’ age, gender, and race, though most do not disclose this information. As a result, the overall picture remains blurry. According to the latest data compiled by the University of Florida’s Election Lab, 42 million Americans have voted early. This represents 27% of the 155 million U.S. voters who participated in the 2020 election, though the figure is still significantly lower than the number who voted four years ago at the same point in the election cycle. So far, 21.1 million citizens have cast their votes in person at designated polling stations, while another 21.3 million votes have been submitted by mail — a method that has been requested by over 65 million people. These early voting figures are the second highest in history. In 2020, the pandemic led to unprecedented levels of early voting, as states implemented measures to minimize the risk of contagion — many of which remain in place today. Approximately 70% of votes in that election were cast early or by mail…While early voting has declined nationwide, it remains close to or exceeds levels seen four years ago in the seven battleground states.” (Learn more and Read the source: “Early voting shows strong Republican mobilization in swing states”, Published by Miguel Jiménez on OCT 28, 2024 in EL PAÍS https://english.elpais.com/usa/elections/2024-10-28/early-voting-shows-strong-republican-mobilization-in-swing-states.html)

TJC started its latest GOTV swing on October 23rd in Brunswick, Georgia. On October 24th, once again, TJC co-leaders Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. sat side-by-side with Marcus Arbery and family during a particularly difficult hearing on a motion for a new trial by the convicted murderers of Ahmaud Arbery. Once again the defendant’s counsel sought to attack TJC demonstrations at the courthouse, just like at the original trial, on the false claim that the only Black juror was improperly influenced and biased by these actions. The majority of the hearing was devoted to efforts by the defendants to introduce into evidence transcripts of recordings of three of the original jurors that were conducted without their knowledge of being recorded. Indeed, the sole African-American juror from the original trial disputed that the transcript accurately reflected everything he had said and that many statements were omitted from the transcript. Also the State contended that this process was an improper attack on the jury’s verdict in contravention of Georgia State Law 606. In addition, there was a motion by Roddie Bryan’s new attorney alleging that the prior attorney provided ineffective assistance counsel. Ultimately, the judge expressed his skepticism about the validity of these transcripts and set a process for the attorneys to submit written arguments on their motions with a possible new hearing date in 2025. 

Despite the defendants’ wicked appeals, the Arbery Family took the high ground to promote Ahmaud’s legacy and, with TJC and the HashtagPATH Bus, were able to hold a community engagement during the hearing at which almost 200 books, toothbrushes, and other supplies were given to children from the community alongside of basketball lessons.

Notably, on Friday, October 25th, TJC sponsored a votercade in Brunswick which featured the Arbery Family voting and some new first time voters. Following the votercade, TJC responded to a request from voting rights leaders in Jacksonville, FL to come to Duval County to protest problems voters were encountering with ballots inaccurately recording their votes (vote flipping). This protest resulted in massive media coverage and voter encouragement and education to effectively participate in the 2024 election. 

Next, TCJ headed to Savannah, Georgia where on Saturday, October 26th, TJC’s John Lewis “Good Trouble” VOTE Bus and the HashtagPATH Bus joined the Savannah State University Homecoming Parade. The parade watchers greeted TJC with joyous clapping, shouts, and pledges to vote! That afternoon, TJC joined the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda in two GOTV voter activations. That evening, they joined the International Longshoremen’s Association for a shrimp and grits dinner. 

The next day on Sunday, October 27th, TJC, with the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda and League of Women Voters US, held a city-wide Souls To The Polls and Votercade Of Churches and Early Voting from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM. This Souls To The Polls votercade was massive and ended at the Civic Center polling site where many people who participated in the votercade also voted, including the pastor!

On Monday, October 28th, TJC’s President Barbara Arnwine joined the “We Fight Back” Block Party with Black Voters Matter, Voting Is Power Pittsburgh Regional Coalition (VIP), NAACP, ACLU, VoteRiders, and many more partners. 

During this show, Igniting Change co-hosts Arnwine and Jones will preview the structure of the TJC-NBA Election Protection Command Centers. There will be 3 Command Centers on Election Day, including one in Atlanta, Georgia; another in Milwaukee, WI, and a National Command Center in Washington, D.C. Wonderfully, to date, there have been 52 shift sign ups for the DC Command Center; 24 in Atlanta; and, 11 in Milwaukee– with more volunteers as this show description is being written! These Command Centers will supplement the 866-OUR-VOTE Election Protection efforts run by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Partners. Also, TJC will offer its own hotline for its network of members and others to report any problems during the vote on November 5th.

Igniting Change will also allow their “voice on the street” interview guests to give their media scorecards on the new weekly segment called “Election 2024 and Race Media Report Card”. Over the years, Igniting Change has pointed out the many failures and misadventures of the U.S. media’s coverage of racial issues. This journalistic incompetence reaches a new high during political contests, especially during presidential elections. From misguided headlines which thoughtlessly give credence to racial attacks, to the lack of fact checking, and the treatment of racial slurs, tropes, and stereotypes as fair commentary, this period has reeked of abysmal journalism. We will discuss some of these matters and what is necessary to be done to make the overall media more competent. 

QUESTIONS:

[During the show, as guests are calling in at various times, Barbara and Daryl will review and discuss Early Voting, 100% Justice for Ahmaud Arbery, and TJC and Partners’ “I’ll Rise And Vote” Voter Activations in Savannah, Brunswick, Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania]

• Senator Hughes, a number of years ago TJC gave PA an “F” for lack of accessibility, especially for not offering early voting. Please tell us what has changed positively for voters in PA since 2018.
• Senator Hughes, Why do we have early voting? Why is it important?
• Senator Hughes, what is your assessment for how early voting is going in PA? What are some of the things that voters need to know so they can vote the best? What are some of the do’s and don’ts that voters who are voting by mail and voting early need to know? How can people be best prepared? (signing their envelopes, etc)
• Senator Hughes, In your state, if their ballot is rejected, do they get notified? What can they do? How can voters look up the status of their ballot?
• Senator Hughes, what would you like to say to people who are out there trying to decide whether they’re going to vote or not?
• Senator Hughes, This election season is different than all others. Can you tell us what you find the most unique about this early voting season?
• Senator Hughes, How can our listeners get involved? How can people in our audience help to mobilize voters to go to the polls? What can people do?- because ultimately, polls don’t vote; people vote! How can we make sure that all those who are eligible to vote are voting?
• Senator Hughes, Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

[“Voices on the Street” Interviews Questions]

• Why did you come to this GOTV Youth Rally, cosponsored by PA Youth Vote, Black Voters Matter, and TJC? 
• How are you feeling about this election? (reminder to ask interviewee to keep answer non-partisan)
• How do you think other youth are feeling about this election? Are they planning to vote?
• “Election 2024 and Race Media Report Card”
• How has the media been covering this issue?
• How would you rate the media’s coverage of this issue?
• For the past week, what grade would you give from A – F of the media’s coverage of the racial aspects of the 2024 election? 
• Why did you give this grade?
• What is your final word to our audience about the importance of the vote?
• (Barbara will remind listeners to double check their voter registration as many voters have been purged from voter rolls)